SUMMARY: Bad breath certainly isn’t limited to adults, dogs and cats. Children may have halitosis for any number of reasons, the most common of which are listed below.

Posted: December 8, 2010

bad breath certainly isn’t limited to adults, dogs and cats. Children may have halitosis for any number of reasons, the most common of which are listed below.

Been to the dentist lately? - According to the website Health Guidance, kids’ bad breath can be caused by something as simple as needing a dental checkup. Children can easily let their dental care fall by the wayside, especially if their parents are having a particularly busy few month. if you notice that your child has sour breath at bedtime, it may be time to make an appointment with the dentist.

Sugar - Related to the last cause is excess sugar intake, which can can cause tooth decay and gingivitis. Since kids are even less likely than adults to brush their teeth or rinse their mouths out after lunch, any candy or processed snack foods they eat at school will sit on their tongues and harden between their teeth, leading to nasty breath at night.

Medical condition - Rarely, bad breath can be a sign of some underlying condition, like diabetes, or a result of prescription medications like Ritalin or Adderall.

Dehydration - Bad breath can be a sign of dehydration, since a dry mouth allows anaerobic bacteria to multiply and produce sulfuric odor compounds. Kids who run around outside, participate in sports or simply forget to drink fluids may develop halitosis this way.

Moistening the mouth with specialty breath freshening products can eliminate bacteria, dissolve odor compounds and remove the bad breath that often goes unnoticed until it is blown in your face.